'A pure, unequivocal mess': Mass. mutt gets new leash on life

Adison, a lhasa apso-mix dog believed to be around 9 years old, was in rough shape.

By Kelly Fernandes

Adison, a lhasa apso-mix dog believed to be around 9 years old, was in rough shape.

After he was discovered last month in a home on Cape Cod after his elderly owner died, he had six inches of matted hair on the top of his head, said Lauren Biagiotti, volunteer shelter manager of A Helping Paw Humane Society.

"You couldn't even tell he had eyes until we pried the fur away. His feet were bloody raw and soaked in urine and feces," she said.

He'd been taken by the town's animal control officer to a shelter where he would have been euthanized because of his condition, but he was rescued just in time by a relative of his former owner, who brought it to A Helping Paw.

"That woman saved Adison's life by finding him. She called us and asked if we could take him and of course we said yes. He needs a really good home, likes cats and dogs, but not small children. He's been through a lot of trauma, but loves attention and loves to ride in the car. It takes time for him to warm up to people, but be patient and give him love and a backyard to run in and he'll be your best friend!"

Biagiotti has helped hundreds of dogs and cats in her lifetime, but none in worse shape than Adison.

"Adison was a pure, unequivocal mess," said Biagiotti. "I took him to Marlene Malone, my groomer at the Rover Makeover. It took four miserable, grueling hours to shave him down and clean him up."

Now Adison is looking for a home.

Biagotti and her husband, David, are fostering Adison and want to make sure they find the perfect match for him.

A Helping Paw is a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter/thrift shop founded in 1998 by Chrissy and Ernie Tomkiewicz.

It relies solely on volunteers, donations and money raised through its thrift shop.

"There may be a reduced fee for Adison because of his age," said Chrissy Tomkiewicz. "He is updated on all his shots and like all our adoptions we want to really meet with the person who is interested in Adison before setting a fee and allowing them to take him."

For Biagotti, finding Adison the perfect home will be bittersweet.

"I would love to keep him, but I can't. He's become so attached to me. I know I'm going to cry. He's grown on me and my family."

For more information about Adison and other animals or to volunteer call A Helping Paw at 508-759-2887 or visit the shelter at 3166 Cranberry Highway, or visit www.ahelpingpaw.org.